Live-in relationships are not illegal, State must protect such couples, says Allahabad High Court

Stating that the conception of a live-in narration whitethorn not beryllium acceptable to all, but specified relationships are not illegal, the Allahabad High Court connected Wednesday (December 17, 2025) ordered the Uttar Pradesh constabulary to supply extortion to 12 live-in couples allegedly threatened by their families.

The Bench of Justice Vivek Kumar Singh, who was proceeding the petitions filed by 12 women from antithetic parts of the State, stated that it cannot beryllium said that surviving unneurotic without the sanctity of matrimony constitutes an offence.

The tribunal cited the illustration of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, which says that a pistillate who is successful a home narration has been provided protection, maintenance, etc. But the enactment has not utilized the connection “wife”.

“Once an individual, who is simply a major, has chosen his/her partner, it is not for immoderate different person, beryllium it a household member, to entity and origin a hindrance to their peaceful existence. It is the bounden work of the State, arsenic per the Constitutional obligations casted upon it, to support the beingness and liberty of each citizen,” the tribunal said.

It added that the close to quality beingness is to beryllium treated connected a overmuch higher pedestal, careless of a national being insignificant oregon major, joined oregon unmarried, and owed to the specified information that the petitioners person not solemnised marriage, would not deprive them of their cardinal rights arsenic envisaged successful the Constitution of India.

The tribunal besides cited Section 114 of the Indian Evidence Act/Section 119(1) of Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, which States that if couples unrecorded unneurotic for a important magnitude of clip arsenic husbands and wives, they volition beryllium presumed to beryllium married.

“The courts shall use this presumption to support the rights of the parties successful a live-in relationship, i.e. women and the children calved arsenic a effect thereof,” it added.